Littlehampton bonfire celebrations cancelled for 2019

Littlehampton's bonfire celebrations will not go ahead in 2019, according to the society organising the event.

The annual event, which includes a fireworks display and a torchlight procession through the town's streets, was due to go ahead on October 26th.

But, according to a post being circulated on social media, members of the Littlehampton Bonfire Society voted to cancel the event at a meeting on Tuesday night for a number of reasons, mostly based around the inability to ensure the safety of visitors to the event.

Chief among them was a lack of staff to build and guard the bonfire, along with insufficient marshals and persons to help clean up after the event.

It's also understood organisers did not get as many entries as necessary to hold a parade and a low number of charity collectors.

"This decision was not taken lightly. Everyone on the committee was filled with sadness at this decision.

"We have all worked extremely hard to work towards this year’s bonfire night. And let me be clear, we all hope that next year we will be back as strong as ever!

"We plan to continue with all fund raising events and actively seek for more members and more volunteers so that we may continue."